Levantamento etnobotânico de plantas medicinais, alimentares e tóxicas em área de caatinga do município de Mãe D’água, Paraíba, Brasil.

Abstract

An etnobotanic survey of the medicinal, alimentary and toxic plants was carried out by interviewing 40 inhabitants of Mãe D’água municipality, Paraíba. Data on the popular name and structure of the plant used for medicine or food production, and manipulation and preparation local techniques were collected. For toxic plants, more specific information was collected, such as part of the plant that presented toxicity, and the type and consequences of intoxication. Data analyses showed that 20 plant families and 28 plant species were classified as medicinal plants, and Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E.Br., Cymbopogon citratus D.C.Stapf., and Mentha arvensis L. were cited by more than 14 of the interviewed inhabitants. 22 plant families and 25 plant species were considered as alimentary plants, and Mangifera indica L., Psidium guajava L. and Musa paradisiaca L. were the most cited species. Eight families and nine species were considered toxic plants, and Urtica dioica L. Were the most cited ones. Phytochemical and pharmacological studies may furnish more information in order to help the proper use of these plants on human health and environmental quality.